TUCSON — Todd Helton is the face of the Rockies. Now, the two can grow wrinkled together.

The greatest player in franchise history set himself up to retire a Rockie after signing a two-year, $9.9 million contract extension through the 2013 season. Under the terms of the new contract, Helton will defer $13.1 million and work for the Rockies in some capacity, possibly even as a coach, when he stops playing.

“We view him in the same way as a Cal Ripken, George Brett and Tony Gwynn. He’s a Rockie, and a Hall of Famer we believe,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said Thursday. “It was something that made sense, and it’s great for the fans to be able to celebrate him and know he will be here.”

The idea of reworking Helton’s contract sprouted in December. Owner Dick Monfort and team president Keli McGregor were determined to keep Helton, 36, a Rockie until he retired. They also didn’t want any uncertainty next season during the last year of his nine-year, $141.5 million contract. So they proposed what Helton called a “win-win” situation.

Helton had been scheduled to make $19.1 million in 2011 with a $4.6 million buyout prior to the 2012 season. Instead, under the terms of the new contract, Helton will earn $6 million in 2011, plus a $4.7 million signing bonus with the remaining difference from the $19.1 million deferred. The club, in turn, extended Helton’s deal by two years. He will make $4.9 million in 2012 and $5 million in 2013 when he’s 40.

“The biggest thing is finishing my career here, not having to go out and play two years somewhere else,” Helton said. “I know what we have here, and it’s a good thing. There was no reason to mess with that.”

Helton is deferring $13.1 million over 10 years, starting in 2014. By adjusting his salary next season, Helton gives the Rockies payroll flexibility, and gives himself peace of mind.

“I have to be honest, it does take some pressure off me. I will no longer be the guy making ($19.1 million) at 38 years old,” Helton said. “You try not to look at it that way. But it’s true.”

The refinancing frees up money for the Rockies to try and keep pitcher Jorge De La Rosa, a free agent at season’s end, as well as right fielder Brad Hawpe and pitcher Jeff Francis, both of whom have pricey club options for 2011.

“I want to help keep this team intact. That’s the great thing about this,” Helton said.

The agreement isn’t all about the money. It was also about creating a human monument. Even to teammates, Helton is the Rockies. This contract gives him a chance to leave the playing field in the same fashion as Broncos’ Hall of Famer John Elway and Avalanche legend Joe Sakic — playing his entire career with one team, a rarity in pro sports today.

And he will continue to be employed by the franchise after he retires as a player in a yet-unspecified role. A handful of teammates predicted Helton could be a hitting instructor after he retires.

After successful back surgery, Helton rebounded from the lone poor season in his 13-year career by hitting .325 with 15 home runs, 86 RBIs and a .416 on-base percentage last season.

“He’s still a huge part of everything we do,” pitcher Aaron Cook said. “You know it had to be really tough for him early in his career because he wants to win so badly. But now we have the team in place, and he’s our leader with the example he sets every day.”

Added special assistant Vinny Castilla: “He should be the first guy to have his number retired. He’s a great player and a great role model. He’s meant business from Day One.”

Helton’s new contract is evidence of how much the culture of the Rockies has changedin the past five seasons. He had been reluctant to defer money, but everything changed as the franchise became an annual playoff contender and began locking up core players with long-term contracts.

“Who knows how many years we have left with him. But another year went by without a world championship, and that’s the goal,” shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. “It’s different than just saying it to say it. We have a real chance. There’s nothing far-fetched about it. Todd realizes that, and wants to be part of us doing something special here.”

Todd Helton’s two-year contract extension puts him position to retire as a Rockie. He’s in a select group of active players who have spent their entire career — minimum 10 years — with one team. Baseball writer Troy E. Renck takes a look:

Troy joined The Denver Post in 2002 as the Rockies' beat writer and became a Broncos beat writer in 2014 before assuming the lead role before the 2015 season. He is a past president of the local chapter of Baseball Writers Association of America and has won more than 20 local and national writing awards since graduating from the University of Colorado journalism school with honors in 1993.

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